WELLINGTON, (STUFF NZ) – Rugby clubs must show they have real jobs, real visas and real support plans for young players, says former Super Rugby star. A former Tongan rugby captain has called on Pacific Island rugby unions to refuse to release their players to New Zealand clubs until the clubs can prove they have…
WELLINGTON, (SUDAY STAR TIMES) – They are two of New Zealand rugby’s hottest prospects and they both came here on student visas to attend high school. Fiji’s Waisake Naholo and Tonga’s Malakai Fekitoa were quickly spotted by provincial talent scouts and were soon on a fast track to All Black stardom. Fekitoa won a scholarship…
EMTV – Papua New Guinea has reaffirmed its commitment to assist the island Kingdom of Tonga in hosting the next Pacific Games in 2019. Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill made the assurance to his visiting Tongan counterpart in Port Moresby Monday during a bilateral meeting. PNG has also offered to lend its expertise at the request…
RAROTONGA, OFC – With New Zealand all but through to the semi-final stage already, the focus on Match Day 5 of the 2016 OFC U-17 Women’s Championship falls directly on New Caledonia and Tonga as they battle for the remaining spot out of Group A. The games will be played simultaneously at 2pm local time…
(FIJI TIMES) – Vodafone Fiji futsal team will be a surprise package in the Oceania Football Confederation Futsal Championship next month in Suva, says manager Amitesh Pal. The team marched in to camp this week for the month-long preparation. “One thing we can say is that we won’t be a walkover team in the championship,”…
THE NATIONAL – Sixteen countries have qualified to take part in the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea from November 13 to December 3, a senior official of the Local Organising Committee said. Chairman Seamus Marten said Canada, Mexico, USA, Brazil and Venezuela rounded off their qualification late last year, joining France,…
AUCKLAND, (RNZI) -The Tonga Rugby Union says it will do everything it can to ensure the national sevens team is fully prepared for next year’s Olympic repechage tournament. Tonga impressed at the Oceania Championship in Auckland, thrashing Samoa 41-5 in the semi finals before a 50-0 drubbing by Australia in the title decider. Second place…
SUVA, ( FIJI TIMES) – A friend of the Vodafone Fiji 7s team has made it possible for them to have one week in Abu Dhabi before heading down to Dubai for the first tournament of the HSBC Sevens World Series. The 14 players named in the national side for the first leg of the…
AUCKLAND, (NZ HERALD) – Jonah Lomu was more than just a rugby player – he was an inspiration, a hero and a much loved family man. “We are gathered here to remember a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a friend, an outstanding rugby player and a great New Zealander,” Pacific Peoples Minister Sam…
SUVA, (FBC SPORTS) – Vodafone Fiji 7s coach, Ben Ryan says he would prefer to use local-based players for the busy season that lies ahead. While he is not entirely ruling out including overseas-based reps for the upcoming World Sevens Series and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Ryan says he has a soft spot for…